Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

NC Republicans, at Trump's behest, are gerrymandering North Carolina again

1 7

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 3h

The program, which helps people with significant medical debt, impacts a quarter of NC residents and has surpassed expectations, says @joshsteinnc.bsky.social.

1 3

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 3h

Important 🧵, North Carolina, please share 🙏

👨🏽‍⚕️⚕️Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a first-of-its-kind program in 2024 that, as of today, has wiped out $6.5 billion in medical debt, state leaders say.

Keep reading the thread to find out what to know. 👇

1 4 21

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

For more on the Republican push to gerrymander North Carolina again, check out the latest 👇

cardinalpine.com/2025/10/14/n...

Republicans say they will redraw North Carolina's Congressional maps again—the fourth time in the last five years—in order to help their party win more seats in 2026.

NC voters appeal loss in 'election integrity' lawsuit challenging maps for Congress, state legislature

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

However, there's a pending challenge to gerrymandering that's being led by former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Bob Orr, a conservative who's spoken out against the practice.

www.wral.com/story/nc-vot...

The state Supreme Court has ruled against gerrymandering complaints, but one lawsuit is using a new strategy of arguing that some districts are so skewed that it's akin to rigging an election.

www.wral.com

1 1 2

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

More gerrymandering would likely guarantee more legal challenges to North Carolina Republicans' politically-motivated maps.

So far, the GOP-dominated NC Supreme Court has taken a pass on gerrymandering.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

NC is widely considered to be one of, if not the most, gerrymandered states in America.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

Many good government advocates are joining with Democrats to condemn the news.

Gov. Josh Stein also spoke out.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

In a state that's evenly split by the left and the right, gerrymandering already landed 10 of 14 Congressional seats for Republicans in 2024.

More gerrymandering would likely guarantee Republican victory in the only competitive Congressional district in North Carolina.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

Berger and Hall said new maps were necessary to counter moves from Democrats in other states to gerrymander their districts.

But Trump's push for a gerrymandered advantage in Texas is what prompted Democrats response, and NC Republicans already redrew NC maps to their advantage in 2024.

2

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

It comes two weeks after multiple news outlets reported that Berger, a Republican facing a primary challenge in 2026, sought a Trump endorsement in exchange for redrawing the state’s Congressional electoral maps to ensure Republicans maintain control of the US House in 2026.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

On Monday, NC Senate President Phil Berger and NC House Speaker Destin Hall announced plans to redraw the state’s electoral maps to ensure Republicans maintain control of the US House in 2026.

NC Rep. Cecil Brockman charged with raping a 15-year-old; fellow Democrats demand he resign

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7h

Important 🧵 alert, please share:

An impasse among GOP leaders in the General Assembly has delayed passage of a formal budget and caused a Medicaid $$ shortfall, but NC GOP lawmakers say their priority when they return next week will be keeping Republicans in power in Washington in 2026. More 👇

1 3 5

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

For more on this story, here's the latest from Cardinal & Pine.

cardinalpine.com/2025/10/09/n...

Brockman, a Guilford County Democrat, was also accused in court documents of trying to contact the juvenile victim after the alleged rape. Democrats called the accusations “unconscionable and incompat...

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

NC Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton called on Brockman to step down immediately, saying "the profound seriousness of these criminal charges makes it impossible to represent his community."

2 3

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

A Guilford County magistrate denied Brockman bond in the case.

The magistrate also said that after the alleged rape, Brockman “attempted to use his status to gain information on the whereabouts of the victim,” and tried to contact the victim in the hospital.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

Rep. Robert Reives, the Democratic leader in the NC House, said in an initial statement that if true, the allegations “disqualify him from public office.”

A few hours later, Reives said "it has become clear that (Brockman) is unable to continue serving in the House of Representatives."

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

Brockman, a Democrat representing Guilford County in the North Carolina House, was arrested on Wednesday and taken to High Point Jail, where he was charged with two counts of statutory rape and two counts of “taking indecent liberties” with a child.

NC Rep. Cecil Brockman charged with raping a 15-year-old; fellow Democrats demand he resign

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

#Breaking in North Carolina:

North Carolina Democratic leaders have called on state Rep. Cecil Brockman to “resign immediately,” after news broke on Thursday that he’d been arrested and charged with raping a 15-year-old.

cardinalpine.com/2025/10/09/n...

Brockman, a Guilford County Democrat, was also accused in court documents of trying to contact the juvenile victim after the alleged rape. Democrats called the accusations “unconscionable and incompat...

3 3 6

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

Share this thread and follow Cardinal & Pine for more North Carolina news.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

Other programs are at risk too.

1 2

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

The state is not likely to step in and fill the void.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

If there is no action, however, hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians could lose access to nutritious foods.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 6d

A White House official told Axios that the Trump administration had found a “creative” funding source and would keep WIC afloat, but they provided no details about how much money they would allot or for how long.